teener tuesday puget sound teeners, or whats going on in the pnw Options

[mountainroads]

Sorry... one more post. Here are the cars I saw outside Chris's German Auto today. The Phoenix Red looked better in person than these photos.

Are these owned by forum members?

The "Red" car is actually Tangerine 2323 on the home stretch of what's closing in on a 4-year restoration effort. Steve Shepp did the interior, fwiw.

- MR

[98101]

Sorry... one more post. Here are the cars I saw outside Chris's German Auto today. The Phoenix Red looked better in person than these photos.

Are these owned by forum members?

The "Red" car is actually Tangerine 2323 on the home stretch of what's closing in on a 4-year restoration effort. Steve Shepp did the interior, fwiw.

- MR

It's gorgeous.... hard to forget.

I'll call Steve tomorrow.

[piscean914]

Steve Shepp at Classic Interior Restorations (Ballard) does phenomenal work, has a great reputation, and is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Unfortunately, he hasn't been doing well healthwise and he may not be running the shop anymore, so I cannot give a full-on endorsement. I'd give them a call to find out who's running the show now, and ask a few of the better local paint shops who they'd recommend.

- MR
[/quote]


steve did great work including my 914 seats - my understanding is that he sold his shop to a highly respected guy on the olympic pennisula - there may be more info on the pnw pelican site (i think that's where i saw this info) - hope this helps, bbk

[98101]

Some background on my 1970 914: It came from California without good rubber seals anywhere, and without a rain tray over the engine compartment.

Monday morning I dropped my car at Chris's German, parked it outside his shop since it was a sunny day, discussed some stuff with Chris, and left the key with him. I expressed my anxiety about leaving the car outside, but he assured me the cars come in at night.

I think that shop is pretty busy, since I didn't hear anything back. My 914Rubber door handle rebuild kit arrived in the mail today, so this (Wednesday) evening I drove back there in the Miata to give it to them.

As you know, it didn't stay sunny this week. When I arrived, I was surprised and dismayed to see my car parked outside, soaking wet, in the same spot I'd left it. As far as I could tell, no work had commenced. I was tempted to just leave the Miata there and drive the 914 home, where it would at least be dry. (Also note the green 914 I'd seen before was also outside, but the Tangerine 6 was inside.)

I asked the service manager about this, and he said they'd just temporarily moved it outside so they could push a race car in. He wasn't sure when they'd actually be able to start the work on the car, so I went in to talk to Chris, who was working on a 944 with a technician. (I cannot overemphasize how nice most of the cars there were, including a 356 in apparently great condition.) Chris indicated that they *would* be able to start work on it.

If it were any other shop I think I would have just taken my 914 home, but Chris's German Auto comes highly recommended... and so many beautiful car owners clearly think it's a good shop ... so I didn't.

I'm having flashbacks of being a kid in the 1980s and not being able to get Porsche mechanics to take my 914 as seriously as their other cars. And a part of me is thinking maybe I should put off this whole thing until my kids grow up and I've got time to learn to do all this work myself.

[98101]

steve did great work including my 914 seats - my understanding is that he sold his shop to a highly respected guy on the olympic pennisula - there may be more info on the pnw pelican site (i think that's where i saw this info) - hope this helps, bbk

Tried reaching Steve Shepp when I got back. Phone number went to Rich's Auto Upholstery -- the same guy who did our custom motorcycle seat 10 years ago (yes, he is hopefully the only other expert at my wife's butt). The motorcycle seat was great, but isn't that different than restoring a 1970 Porsche interior?

[bradtho]

If it were any other shop I think I would have just taken my 914 home, but Chris's German Auto comes highly recommended... and so many beautiful car owners clearly think it's a good shop ... so I didn't.

my recommendation would be to settle in. Servicing an air-cooled car is not like normal repair work. Well, technically it is, but its enough of a specialty that the shops that do it well will generally have a backlog. You can't expect that cars sit inside at all times, though you should expect them to be rolled in over nite.

Personally, I'm surprised that Chris would take on work for a 4 without you being an existing customer, but good on you if he will.

I think its important to have a good and trusting relationship with your shop. Up to you if you feel you have that or not. If you're in this for the long haul and not doing all the work yourself, you're going to be there enough that you should like the experience and feel good that you're shoveling your $$$ there.

[mountainroads]

If it were any other shop I think I would have just taken my 914 home, but Chris's German Auto comes highly recommended... and so many beautiful car owners clearly think it's a good shop ... so I didn't.

I've been going to Chris's long enough that I've developed a quasi-personal relationship, so I don't want to sound like I'm blindly defending the place.

1) I can't speak to your car being outside in the rain, but I'm very sure that *none* of the cars are left unsupervised outside overnight.

2) Chris does get pretty busy and work that's outside the standard tune-up or repair items can be harder to accurately predict, time-wise. I too have been annoyed a few times when it took them longer to complete (or start) the work than I was told it would.

3) I don't think your 914 is being discriminated against. Last time I was in there they pointed out the number of 914s and said something like: "We hardly ever see a 914 anymore and all of a sudden we have a bunch to work on." They seemed genuinely stoked about it.

- MR

[mountainroads]

The motorcycle seat was great, but isn't that different than restoring a 1970 Porsche interior?

Perhaps moot if Steve has retired, but perhaps this will reassure you:

From Ferrari Chat https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/i...le-area.468239/

"Also, I am having the interior on my other Dino, a 246gt, completely redone - this time by another shop that is much closer to where other mechanical work is being done on my 246gt - Steve Shepp at Classic Interior Restorations. Steve has done full interior restorations on several Pebble Beach Concours cars, and 6 Dinos, now 7 Dinos, along with list of other collectible and important cars that stretches off into the horizon."

[98101]

Thanks guys.

Yeah, I do have my own baggage from the experiences with mechanics I had when I was young.

[98101]

steve did great work including my 914 seats - my understanding is that he sold his shop to a highly respected guy on the olympic pennisula - there may be more info on the pnw pelican site (i think that's where i saw this info) - hope this helps, bbk

This morning I spoke to Rich, who confirmed Steve in his late 70s now is no longer healthy enough to do the work. Even though I never met Steve, I'm sad about this. Evidently he did the original Batmobile and other top notch original work.

"Rich's Custom Upholstery," the motorcycle seat shop on Aurora is no longer Rich. I surmise that he may have sold it around the time he merged with Steve's business and took over Steve's unfinished projects. Evidently they've known each other and worked together a long time. Rich has a new shop in Kingston he intends to focus on automobile interiors in the winter and motorcycle seats in the summer. He's done classic Porsches already (912 in progress now). He suggested rebuilding something like the custom center console my car had, if the cables were actually working properly before (which I don't know since I never had a heater). I have reasonable confidence in Rich because we'd used him for our motorcycle seat way back when.

No website for the new business yet.

[rjames]

I'm having flashbacks of being a kid in the 1980s and not being able to get Porsche mechanics to take my 914 as seriously as their other cars. And a part of me is thinking maybe I should put off this whole thing until my kids grow up and I've got time to learn to do all this work myself.

When I first got my 914 over 10 years ago, I brought it to a couple of different high-end specialty car shops, including a place known for working on classic german cars. My experiences were either neutral or bad. Most of them bad (which = costly). That included the treatment both me and my car received. From that point on I started toing all of the work myself, despite not having any experience working on cars, save for changing a tire and doing oil changes.

Unless you've got a ton of cash that can move you to the front of the line at the shop, get the Haynes manual, use the wealth of knowledge that's on this site, and the tech articles on Pelican. I think that just about every repair you'll ever need to do is documented in detail somewhere on this site. Also, there won't be anyone that will put as much care into the work on your car than you.
For most things, you also save a bunch of $ doing the work yourself.

[98101]

When I first got my 914 over 10 years ago, I brought it to a couple of different high-end specialty car shops, including a place known for working on classic german cars. My experiences were either neutral or bad. Most of them bad (which = costly). That included the treatment both me and my car received. From that point on I started toing all of the work myself, despite not having any experience working on cars, save for changing a tire and doing oil changes.

Unless you've got a ton of cash that can move you to the front of the line at the shop, get the Haynes manual, use the wealth of knowledge that's on this site, and the tech articles on Pelican. I think that just about every repair you'll ever need to do is documented in detail somewhere on this site. Also, there won't be anyone that will put as much care into the work on your car than you.
For most things, you also save a bunch of $ doing the work yourself.

That's what I've always wanted to do... in fact dropping a 914 motor is on my bucket list.

Here's my challenge: I've got a 6yo and 8yo daughter we're partially homeschooling, and every parent I've met tells me they wish they'd spent more time with their kids when they were this age. Also living in a condo where it's hard to do a lot of work in the garage.

My previous experiences with mechanics in the 1980s would have been OK if they were just expensive. It was the not doing good work part that bothered me.

[rjames]

Here's my challenge: I've got a 6yo and 8yo daughter we're partially homeschooling, and every parent I've met tells me they wish they'd spent more time with their kids when they were this age. Also living in a condo where it's hard to do a lot of work in the garage.

My previous experiences with mechanics in the 1980s would have been OK if they were just expensive. It was the not doing good work part that bothered me.

I hear you. I have a 9 year old and did most of the work on my car in fits and spurts over long periods of time. Or in the middle of the night. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

The car will be there for you when you have time. The kids will only be kids once. If you want something you can drive without having to ever work on it, a 914 isn't the best choice in cars unless you have deep pockets.
With the little time I have to work on my car when something goes awry, I try to enjoy that experience, too and not feel like I have to get it done right away. Too much stress.

Let me know when you get around to that engine drop. Happy to help if I can!

[PeeGreen 914]

If you are swinging by Walker's without stopping in at Matt's Greenwood you are being a bad person (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) .

I work at Matt's. No, we do not work on 914's but we have a few guys here that know a lot about them and can lend a hand if needed.

[rhodyguy]

Dropping the engine is not that big of a deal. If you post a thread asking for some extra hands I'm sure you'll get offers. Pick a Saturday or Sunday and see what shakes out. Weekday traffic is impossible. Is the trans going east after the drop?

You should be putting your seals and the like in your self. Swing by a riteaid and pick up a bottle of glycerin. Makes rubber bits easier to install and cleans up with water

[98101]

Wow! Thanks for the offer to help with the tranny replacement.

10 years ago some of us from a motorcycle forum got together to work on my bike at one of their houses, since living downtown I don't have any tools or facilities. There was so little I could contribute that they wound up doing nearly all the work. We didn't work on their bikes at all. I think my only contribution was the beer. I felt so guilty afterward I didn't ask them for any more help.

Doug Chase, a mechanic (and Fiero 2M6 owner!) in Duvall I met went I first got the Miata, has looked over my 914 and is willing to let me participate in the work (as Franklin did). He doesn't have 914 experience, but I'm thinking it's still better than me trying to do it all on my own, without a nice lift and huge set of tools. So I've asked Dr. Evil to ship the transmission to his Duvall shop. Still need to dispose of the one that's in the car now. (It works if you don't mind matching revs, which I guess good drivers are supposed to do anyway, along with double declutching.)

Off and on, the clutch has been slipping a bit. Previous owner replaced the clutch disk a year ago, but not the other parts. So it's been suggested I buy a full clutch kit. I see that Pelican has one for $1K (ouch!) if the flywheel option is selected. Dr. Evil (who has a real name, but let's call him Dr. Evil) thinks he might already have a full clutch kit.

Ordered a rear main seal from gowesty, per advice on this forum.

Oh, I noticed the engine to car air seal rubber is dried up, like most of the rubber on my car. I guess that's easy to replace when the engine is out. And then I think maybe I should just order the full rubber kit from 914Rubber while I have the chance?

Here's how the "while you're in there" syndrome goes.

[PanelBilly]

I’ll help too. Not this Saturday. The local PCA has a meet at a race shop in Auburn and there’s going to be a bunch of formula1 cars.

[mountainroads]

Still need to dispose of the one that's in the car now. (It works if you don't mind matching revs, which I guess good drivers are supposed to do anyway, along with double declutching.)

Just a thought: Check out the clutch cable before diving into the tranny. They get worn and "stretchy" causing the clutch to not completely disengage, which leads to shifting problems, etc. Especially inspect for broken and frayed strands at the rear pulley which is partially exposed to the elements. I had one fail on me at a very inopportune time. I managed to limp it home 75 miles in third gear without stopping or shifting. Quite the adventure having to blow at least one red light and several stop signs to do that. One directly in front of a police station.

Clutch cable probably wouldn't explain your slipping clutch, however.

- MR

[98101]

Still need to dispose of the one that's in the car now. (It works if you don't mind matching revs, which I guess good drivers are supposed to do anyway, along with double declutching.)

Just a thought: Check out the clutch cable before diving into the tranny. They get worn and "stretchy" causing the clutch to not completely disengage, which leads to shifting problems, etc. Especially inspect for broken and frayed strands at the rear pulley which is partially exposed to the elements. I had one fail on me at a very inopportune time. I managed to limp it home 75 miles in third gear without stopping or shifting. Quite the adventure having to blow at least one red light and several stop signs to do that. One directly in front of a police station.

Clutch cable probably wouldn't explain your slipping clutch, however.

- MR

For better or worse, two mechanics have concluded that the clutch is properly adjusted. Third gear goes in like a charm, but 4th and 5th in particular are like threading a needle in high winds after drinking three martinis ... unless the engine speed is right.

Previous owner seems to have been confused about a lot of things. Inop brake lights (fixed now), reverse lights, license plate light, trunk light, seat pad light ... and the horn is a button attached to the dash. The carbs had both vacuum ports wide open, among other problems. 2366 engine delivers less than 2366 power because he chose the wrong camshaft and exhaust. I'm afraid to roll down the passenger side window because I think it will fall into the door and break. I knew I'd be spending some money on this when I bought it for a relatively low price. Body is pretty straight and I only know of one other 914 with the same Australian wheels. Front mounted oil cooler!

[rhodyguy]

You live in downtown proper?